Mechano-Metabolism & Technology Innovation for Cancer & Regenerative Medicine

As an interdisciplinary team with expertise in biomedical engineering, mechanics, physics, and cancer biology, our research integrates engineering and physics principles to tackle complex biomedical challenges.

We are developing a unique research program at the interface of mechano-metabolism, engineering, and precision medicine, focusing on 

• Collective cell migration in physiologically relevant 3D microenvironments

• Mechanical heterogeneity in disease and development

• Mechano-metabolic regulation in cancer and regenerative medicine

Our approach combines computational and statistical modeling, machine learning, and novel genetic biosensors to study metabolic and mechanical signaling. We utilize tissue-engineered 2D/3D cell culture platforms, as well as ex vivo and in vivo models, to build a detailed understanding of cancer invasion and regenerative processes.

Moving forward, we aim to integrate patient-derived data to enhance translational impact, contributing to the development of mechanobiology-based therapies and precision diagnostics for cancer and regenerative medicine. This work will lay the foundation for new metabolic- and mechano-based therapeutic and diagnostic strategies by uncovering fundamental mechanisms, identifying disease biomarkers, and enabling innovative bioengineering solutions.

Goals

To explore unknown biomedical knowledge to improve human health.

To develop novel quantitative and mechanical tools to help understand biomedical science.

Current Research Projects

1. Develop quantitative tools to understand the mechanics of cancer collective migration (supported by NIGMS grant).

2. Develop engineering tools to understand the role of cellular mechanical phenotype in diseases and biology (supported by NIBIB grant).

3. Understand the mechano-metabolism of tumor clusters (supported by NCI grant and NIGMS grant via AIMRC).

4. Understand the bioenergetics of cancer cell migration, proliferation, and cell-matrix mechanical interactions (NIGMS grant via AIMRC).

Our research is supported by